Clamp-type light for swimming pool

ABSTRACT

A light unit attachable to a swimming pool tank having sidewalls above the ground level and terminating in an upper rim, the light having a substantially U-shaped supporting member of which one leg extends from the rim of the tank downwardly along the inner surface of the sidewall thereof and has an electric light within a light shield supported by the lower end of said leg, while the opposite leg of the member is disposed along the outer surface of the sidewall of the pool tank and engages the same in opposition to the first-mentioned leg so as to stabilize the support of the light within the tank. Several embodiments of adjustable bracket means are included and the light is furnished with electric current by a conduit extending up the leg of the U-shaped member which extends along the inner surface of the tank, said conduit being connectable to a source of surrent, preferably low voltage, supplied either by a transformer or by rechargeable batteries.

0 United States Patent [1 1 [111 3,793,516 Cassey Feb. 19, 1974 CLAMP-TYPE LIGHT FOR SWIMMING [57] ABSTRACT POOL A light unit attachable to a swimming pool tank hav- [76] Inventor: Harold C. Cassey, 136 Main St., ing sidewalls above the ground level and terminating Salunga, Pa. 17538 in an upper rim, the light having a substantially U- I shaped supporting member of which one leg extends [22] Flled' 1973 from the rim of the tank downwardly along the inner [21] Appl. No.: 326,498 surface of the sidewall thereof and has an electric light within a light shield supported by the lower end of said leg, while the opposite leg of the member is disposed S 240,26 3 along the outer surface of the sidewall of the pool tank 58 Field of Search 240/26, 52, 68, 72; 248/226 R, and .engages the Same m l 248/226 A 226 B Y mentioned leg so as to stabilize the support of the light within the tank. Several embodiments of adjustable [56] References Cited bvriatllcljzlalrznitngluded and the light is furnished y a con uit extending up the leg UNITED STATES PATENTS I of the U-shaped member which extends along the 3,456,103 7/1969 Bond 240/26 inner surface of the tank, said conduit being connect- 2,968,208 l/l961 Shaw.. l 240/26 able to a Source f sun-em, f bl low voltage, l,l85,904 6/1916 Hendricks... 240/26 pp either y a transformer or y rechargeable 2,551,157 5/1951 Prlce 248/226 B batteries 3,204,902 9/1965 David 248/226 B 3,596,084 7/1971 Henning et al 240/68 1,161,939 11/1915 Lewis 240/26 7 Claims, 10 Drawing Flgures Primary ExaminerRobe rt P. Greiner Attorney, Agent, or Firm-C. Hercus Just CROSS-REFERENCE TORELATED APPLICATION This application Ser. No. 326,466, filed Jan. 24, 1973, is a companion to another application directed to several different embodiments of lights for use with a swimming pool and especially pools formed within the ground.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Lights to illuminate the interior of swimming pools have been employed for a number of years with respect to expensive types of pools, usually of masonry nature, installed with athletic clubs, country clubs, and similar institutions capable of affording such relatively expensive types of pools. The inclusion of lights within the sidewalls and/or the bottoms of such pools adds to the expense of the installationfdue to the fact that such lights must be of waterproof nature. In recent years, the construction and use of much less expensive swimming pools has gained wide popularity. Many such pools are installed in the yardsof individual residences, certain types of these pools being formed within the ground, while others are formed above the ground. In the main, the inclusion of lights to illuminate the interior of such pools has been avoided, :primarily because of certain difficulties encountered incident to forming lights in the sidewalls of such pools due to the'fact'that many of the sidewalls are formed from sheet'material of various kinds, said walls primarily being rendered waterproof by the use of impervious flexible lining material of which vinyl sheet plastic material is a common type employed for such purpose.

Several examples of lights which have been devised heretofore for use with swimming pools without mounting the same permantently, for example, within the sidewalls of the pools are illustrated in US. Pat. No. 3,090,489, in the name of Smith, dated May 21, 1963, and US. Pat. No, 3,456,103, in the name of Bond, dated July 15, 1969. The lights illustrated in said patents primarily are intended for use with swimming pools having sidewalls extending into the ground. In the earlier patent, the light is arranged for support by a ladder mechanism mounted along the wall of a pool, while in the later patent, the light is arranged to be clamped to a handrail extending along the side of a pool and supported by a pipe standard which extends vertically relative to the side of the pool. Neither of these patented structures appear to be well adapted to be utilized with a pool of the tank type supported at ground level, for example, wherebythe ground supports the bottom of the pool and the sides extend above the ground. More particularly, said patented lights do not appear to be adapted for use with sidewalls of such above-theground type pools in which relatively thin sheet material, for example, such as sheet metal, comprises the vertical sidewalls of the pool and terminate in an upper rim.

It is the principal purpose of the present invention to provide a relatively simple, inexpensive type of light for a tank type pool supported above ground level which is adapted to be clamped to the sidewall of such pool and including means to adapt the clamping function to pools having different thicknesses of sidewalls and upper railings, whereby such tank type pools may be illuminated and provide enjoyment in non-daylight hours, whereby the period of use of such pools is greatly extended and the illumination of the interior of such pools during nighttime hours adds to the pleasure of using said pools. I

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION I It is the principal object of the present invention to provide a light unit for swimming pools of the type having sidewalls extending above the ground level, especially pools formed from sheet material, by employing a substantially U-shaped supporting structure of which one leg extends downwardly into the tank along the sidewall thereof and terminates in an electric light which is positioned below the water level of the tank type pool, while the other leg of said supporting member engages the outer surface of the sidewall of such pool in clamping manner to stabilize the position of the light within the pool.

It is an additional object of the invention to provide firm support for the one leg extendingdown into the pool by a bracket fastened to the inside wall which is engaged by a tongue on said one leg which extends downward into the pool.

It is another object of the invention to provide adjustable means between'the legs of said U-shaped supporting member so as toadapt the mounting of the lightto engage sidewalls of different thicknesses.

It is a further object of the invention to'provide several different embodiments of adjustable means between the legs of such U-shaped supporting means and, as an ancillary feature to the foregoing, it is a further object to provide adjustable abutting means on one or both of the legs of said U-shaped supporting member, said abutting means being adapted to engage adjacent surfaces of the sidwalls of the pool and thus provide refinements in clamping the light unit with respect to such sidewall of a pool.

Details of the foregoing objects and of the invention, as well as other objects thereof, are set forth in the following specification and illustrated in the accompanying drawing comprising a part thereof.

.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a side elevation of one embodiment of light unit embodying the principles of the present invention and illustrated in operative position with respect to a sidewall of a swimming pool of the tank type positioned above ground level, said tank being illustrated in fragmentary manner.

FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1, but showing a further embodiment of securing means from that illustrated in FIG. 1.

FIG. 2A shows a fragmentary plan view of a bracket firmly attached to a pool sidewall and a co-engaging tongue on the shield of said light unit.

FIG. 3 is a face view of one leg of the light units shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 but employing a large scale than utilized in said figures, the sidewall of the pool also being illustrated in fragmentary manner.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary side elevation of the upper portion of the light unit shown in FIG. 1 and illustrated on a larger scale than shown in said figure, the structure shown in FIG. 4 also illustrating a slightly difierent' type of rim for the side of the tank from that shown in FIG.

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary side elevation of the upper portion of the light unit shown in FIG. 2 and, in addition, illustrating a still further embodiment of clamping means from that shown in FIG. 2.

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary top plan view of the light unit shown in FIG. 3.

FIG. 7 is an enlarged side elevation of the light shield and mounting means therefor arranged on the lower portion of the light unit in FIG. 1.

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary top plan view of the light shield and mounting means therefor as seen on the line 88 of FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary side elevation of a light shield embodying the principles of the present invention and showing a different embodiment of adjustable abutment means mounted thereon from that illustrated in certain of the preceding figures.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Referring to FIG. 1, the sidewall 10 of a swimming pool is shown in fragmentary manner, said sidewall terminating in a rim 12 which extends around the upper edge of the pool. As shown, the sidewall 10, for example, may comprise sheet metal. Said sidewall also may be rendered waterproof by a layer of thin, flexible plastic waterproof sheeting, such as vinyl plastic resin of customary type. The light unit illustrated in said figure comprises an elongated member 16 which preferably is tubular for purposes of receiving an electrical conductor 18 therein. For convenience, the upper end of the tubular member is somewhat flattened and extends at a right angle to the downwardly extending portion of the tubular member which extends into the pool tank.

The angular extension 20 on the tubular member 16 preferably is suitably connected to one leg of an L- shaped bracket member 22, while another leg of said bracket member is connected to the upper portion of the downwardly extending tubular member 16 by an appropriate collar 24 as shown in FIG. 1, or by welding the same together appropriately.

The horizontal leg of the bracket member 22 preferably rests upon the rim 12 of the swimming pool for positioning and support thereby. Clamping means in the form of an elongated leg 26 is adjustably connected at the upper end thereof to the horizontal leg of the bracket member 22 by means of a plurality of bolts 28 which extend through slots 30, see FIG. 6, which are formed in the horizontal leg of the bracket member 22. Said bolts also extend through appropriate holes formed in a horizontal flange 32 which is secured to the upper end of the elongated leg 26. For convenience, the elongated leg 26 may be formed from sheet metal. Also, in the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, it will be seen that the 'leg 26 is substantially coextensive in length with the tubular member 16.

Still referring to FIG. 1, it will be seen that the lower end of the elongated leg 26 is provided with adjustable abutment means in the form of a clamping button 34 which is connected to one end of a threaded hand screw 36 which extends through the member 26 for threaded adjustment relative thereto. The clamping button 34 is adapted to clampingly engage the outer surface of the sidewall 10 of the pool, in opposition. to additional abutting means now to be described.

The lower end of the tubular member 16 supports a light shield 38 which, in the preferred construction thereof, completely encloses an electric bulb mounted within a socket of conventional type, not shown. The shield 38 may be formed from suitable metal or plastic and supports a standard low voltage underwater selfcontained pool light. Also, a transparent lens 40 which may be formed from suitable glass, plastic, or otherwise may be used with the shield and can be connected to the rim thereof by a suitable bezel 42. A clamping nut 44, as shown in FIG. 7 in enlarged scale, is placed upon the lower portion of the tubular member 16 and a special exteriorly threaded socket 16 connected to the upper end of the light shield 38 is press-fitted onto the lower end of tubular member 16 and firmly attaches the shield 38 and member 16 together. This also permits limited rotational adjustment of said shield relative to member 16.

Referring to FIGS. 7 and 8 in particular, it will be seen that a substantially U-shaped bracket 46 receives the nut 44 and tubular member 16 within the space between the legs thereof. A vertically extending flange 48 on the bracket 46, see FIG. 7, has a pad 50 of yieldable material connected thereto for direct engagement with the inner surface of the sidewall 10 of the pool, as shown in FIG. 1. The legs of the bracket 46 are provided with slots 52, which receive bolts 54 which are fixed to and project upwardly from the light shield 38 and the nuts threaded upon the bolts adjustably secure the bracket 46 to the light shield 38 so as to provide adjustment for the abutment 50 relative to the light shield 38. As illustrated in FIG. I, it will be seen that the abutment 50 opposes the abutment 34 which comprises the clamping button that is adjustably connected to the lower end of elongated leg 26.

Certain details of the clamping means illustrated in FIG. 1 are shown on a larger scale in FIG. 4. FIG. 4 also serves to illustrate a somewhat tubular form of rim 12, whereas the rim- 12 shown in FIG. 1 is rectangular in cross-section. FIG. 4 also shows an auxiliary clamping screw 51, which is threaded through the vertical leg depending from flange 32 for direct and firm clamping engagement with either type of upper rail 12 at the top of the sidewalls of the pools to secure the lightsupporting bracket means firmly thereto. Otherwise, the structural details illustrated in FIG; 4 are substantially the same as those shown in FIG. 1.

Referring to FIG. 2, the structure illustrated therein is similar to that shown in FIG. 1 except that a further embodiment of clamping means is utilized from that shown in FIG. 1. In FIG. 2, the elongated leg 26 of FIG. 1 has been omitted and in lieu thereof, an auxiliary bracket 56 is utilized to adjustably support clamping type abutting means 58 which is engageable with the outer surface of the sidewall 10 of the pool, the auxiliary bracket 56, in side elevation, being substantially L- shaped.

The horizontal leg of the auxiliary bracket 56 is adjustably secured to the horizontal leg of bracket member 22 by a pair of bolts 60 which are substantially equivalent in function to the bolts 28 of the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 4. Also, said bolts preferably extend through slots, similar to slots 30 shown in FIG. 6, which are formed in the horizontal flange of the bracket member 22 of FIGS. 2 and 5.

The vertically depending leg of auxiliary'bracket 56 has a flange 62 which is best shown in FIG. 5 which is disposed in a plane that is substantially radial with respect to the sidewall 10 of the pool. Adjustably connected to the flange 62 is a bar 64 which has a plurality of sets of holes formed therein in longitudinally spaced locations therealong for reception of securing bolts 66 therethrough. A depending leg 68 is connected to the end of the bar 64 which is nearest the sidewall of the pool and a threaded hand-screw 70 is mounted in complimentary threads in the lower end of the depending leg 68 so as to adjustably support the abutting means 58 on the outer end of hand screw 70. Abutting means 58 is engageable with the outer surface of the sidewall 10 of the pool and operates in opposition to another abutting pad 69 mounted on bracket member 22. The leg 68 also is slidably adjustable along bar 64 and becomes seIf-locking when screw 70 is tightened.

The arrangement for supporting the abutting means 58 as shown in FIGS. 2 and- 5 is particularly adapted to accommodate the bracket and clamping means for the light unit to various widths of rims at the upper edge of the sidewalls 10 of the pool, as well as to different thicknesses of sidewalls, as required. Although the vertical dimensions of the composite clamping means which is supported by the auxiliary bracket 56 are substantially less than the elongated leg 26 of the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, it will be seen that the abutting means 58 of the embodiment shown in FIGS. 2 and 5 is directly opposite the vertical leg of the bracket member 22, whereby said bracket 22 is firmly clamped with respect to the rim 12 of the pool due to abutting member 69 thereon opposing abutting means 58 on handscrew 70.

Further to assist in stabilizing the light shield 38 when mounted within the pool by being clamped to sidewall 10, referring to FIGS. 2 and 2A, it will be seen that the shield is provided with a retaining member 72 which is connected to the rear wall of shield 38 by any suitable means, one example of which is illustrated in FIG. 2A. The member 72 has a downwardly extending prong which is received in a complementary opening in bracket 71 which is fastened to sidewall 10 of the pool by any suitable means. One example of suitable fastening means also is shown in FIG. 2A. It preferably includes fluid tight gaskets which engage lining 14. If desired, expand nuts or well nuts may be used upon the clamping bolts shown in FIG. 2A to facilitate installation.

Also, to stabilize the light shield 38 with respect to the sidewall 10 of the pool, the shield 38 is provided preferably in the rear surface thereof with an adjustably mounted abutment member 76, the preferred construction of which is best illustrated in detail in FIG. 9, wherein it will be seen that the abutment member 76 comprises a yieldable pad'74 of suitable material which is adapted to'engage the inner surface of the sidewall 10 or of the lining sheet 14 in pools where such lining sheet is employed over the sidewall 10. The abutment member 76, as shown in FIG. 9, comprisesa threaded stem which extends'through a suitable hole in the rear wall 78 of light shield 38,-and a pair of clamping nuts 80 respectively engage opposite surfaces of said rear wall 78 to securely and adjustably clamp the abutment member 76 in desired horizontal relationship with respect to the shield member 38 of the light in such mannet that the abutment member 76 engages the sidewall of the pool 10 to stabilizethe light shield 38 relative thereto, when supported in operative relationship within the pool at a desired distance below the water level 82 within the pool as illustrated by an exemplary line in FIGS. 1 and 2.

If desired, the light shield 38 may support a sealed beam type electric bulb 84 which is partially shown in FIGS. 7 and 9. The outer face of this type of bulb may be sealed by the bezel 42, with respect to the rim of the light shield 38 and thereby eliminate the need for a transparent lens 40. Appropriate gaskets of standard type may be utilized to effect a watertight connection between the bulb and shield shell so as to maintain the interior of the light shield 38 watertight, if desired. An appropriate socket 86 of the type used to connect electric conductors to the contacts of the bulb 84 is shown in exemplary manner in FIG. 9, the conductors 88 extending upward through the tubular member 16 either for connection to or to comprise the lower end portions of the electrical conductor 18 shown in FIG. 2.

When utilizing a construction, such as shown in FIG. 9, in which the interior of the light shield 38 may be maintained waterproof, conventional household current, such as 1 10 volts, may be utilized to illuminate the bulb 84. This may be done with safety if a ground fault circuit interrupter (G.F.C.I.) is included in the circuit. However, it is more desirable that the electrical conductor 18 may be connected to a suitable voltage transformer or rechargeable battery, not shown. The transformer may be of the type adapted to substantially reduce the voltage employed in the lighting system below that of normal household value, preferably to a value of about 12 volts. Under the latter circumstances, even if the interior of the light shield 38 should become partially or completely filled with water, or the system is otherwise short circuited, no harm will be experienced by swimmers under normal circumstances, even if contacting the light or its supporting means, due to the much greater electrical resistance of water to conducting electrical current as compared to that of copper which normally is employed in the wire of the conductors l8 and 88.

From the foregoing it will be seen that the present invention provides a relatively simple and correspondingly inexpensive but highly useful light unit adapted to be employed within tank type swimming pools by being connected in clamped manner to the sidewall of such pools at any desired location. The invention contemplates several different embodiments of clamping means adapted to accommodate the supporting means for the light unit to different shapes and widths of rims for the sidewalls of such pools, for example, as well as to different thicknesses of sidewalls. Installation of the lights with respect to the sidewalls may be accomplished quickly and conveniently with a minimum requirement of tools and the mounting means for the light affords adequate stability for the light shield which is disposed below the water level in the pool.

Also, if desired, the bracket member 22- of the various embodiments may be directly secured to the deck or upper rim of a pool by eliminating the various adjustable auxiliary brackets and inserting suitable screws or the like through the slots 30, for example, and inserting them in the deck or pool rim.

While the invention has been described and illustrated in its several preferred embodiments, it should be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the precise details herein illustrated and described since the same may be carried out in other ways falling member and connectable'at the other within the scope of the invention as illustrated and described.

1 claim:

l. A light unit for a swimming pool tank having sidewalls above ground level terminating in an upper rim, said light unit comprising in combination, an elongated conduit member having a light shield on one end adapted to extend downwardly into said tank for a substantial distance adjacent the inner surface of the sidewall theref, bracket means connected to the opposite end of said member and having a horizontal portion adapted to extend across the rim of said tank, clamping means comprising an elongated leg extending downward from and connected to said bracket means and having a clamping abutment adjustable thereon laterally relative to said leg for engagement with the outer surface of the sidewall of said tank substantially in opposition to the light shield on said elongated conduit member to clamp saidmember and light thereon to said sidewall within the interior of said tank, and an electric conduit connected at one end to and extending from said light shield along said elongated conduit end to a source of electric current.

2. The light unit according to claim 1 in which said horizontal portion has a depending flange provided with a clamping screw extending through said depending flange for engagement with the upper rim of a elongated leg is a metallic brace member substantially coextensive in length with said tube.

4. The light unit according to claim 1 in which said light shield also has additional abutment means thereon adapted to engage the inner surface of the sidewall of said pool tank in opposition to abutment means on said elongated leg.

5. The light unit according to claim 4 in which said additional abutment means is adjustable toward and from said light shield to vary the angle thereof relative to the sidewall of the pool.

6. The light unit according to claim 1 further including a bracket adapted to be attached to the sidewall of a swimming pool against the inner surface thereof adjacent said light shield, and said light shield having a retaining member thereon connectable to said bracket to prevent lateral movement of said light shield relative to the sidewall of said pool.

7. The light unit according to claim 6 in which said retaining member has a downwardly extending tang and said bracket has an opening with a vertical axis to slidable receive said tang.

substantially 

1. A light unit for a swimming pool tank having sidewalls above ground level terminating in an upper rim, said light unit comprising in combination, an elongated conduit member having a light shield on one end adapted to extend downwardly into said tank for a substantial distance adjacent the inner surface of the sidewall thereof, bracket means connected to the opposite end of said member and having a horizontal portion adapted to extend across the rim of said tank, clamping means comprising an elongated leg extending downward from and connected to said bracket means and having a clamping abutment adjustable thereon laterally relative to said leg for engagement with the outer surface of the sidewall of said tank substantially in opposition to the light shield on said elongated conduit member to clamp said member and light thereon to said sidewall within the interior of said tank, and an electric conduit connected at one end to and extending from said light shield along said elongated conduit member and connectable at the other end to a source of electric current.
 2. The light unit according to claim 1 in which said horizontal portion has a depending flange provided with a clamping screw extending through said depending flange for engagement with the upper rim of a swimming pool to clamp said horizontal portion directly thereto.
 3. The light unit according to claim 1 in which said first-mentioned elongated member is a tube within which said electric current conduit extends and said elongated leg is a metallic brace member substantially coextensive in length with said tube.
 4. The light unit according to claim 1 in which said light shield also has additional abutment means thereon adapted to engage the inner surface of the sidewall of said pool tank in opposition to abutment means on said elongated leg.
 5. The light unit according to claim 4 in which said additional abutment means is adjustable toward and from said light shield to vary the angle thereof relative to the sidewall of the pool.
 6. The light unit according to claim 1 further including a bracket adapted to be attached to the sidewall of a swimmIng pool against the inner surface thereof adjacent said light shield, and said light shield having a retaining member thereon connectable to said bracket to prevent lateral movement of said light shield relative to the sidewall of said pool.
 7. The light unit according to claim 6 in which said retaining member has a downwardly extending tang and said bracket has an opening with a substantially vertical axis to slidable receive said tang. 